which lubricant to ease a stiff lock

ShipsWoofy

ShipsWoofy

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And I could have made the title very rude but resisted, I'm growing up.

My conservatory lock (yale type) is getting stiff to insert the key, but this applies equally to boat locks front door locks etc..

I have been told not to use WD40 as it will attract more dirt and the lock will get worse soon.

I have some ptfe spray; Is this ok?

What would a locksmith use? Is it worth dropping into a locksmiths and buying something from him, if there are any left on the high street.
 
Graphite (from a pencil) is quite good at not attracting dust and works well too.

In my boat lock I apply 3-in-1 every now and then; haven't ever had any problems with grit in the lock.
 
You are quite correct that you should not use WD40 on a Pin Tumbler Lock. I would not recommend the use of any liquid lubricat.

The industry standard is to use Flaked Graphite in a Blower Bottle. The easy route & the one I use on a regular basis is the rub pencil Lead (Graphite) on the side of the key & work it in & out of the Lock.

It works a treat.

Martin
 
presumably you mean to rub a soft pencil all over the key? Would that not last only until you have a pocket full of grey dust as it rubs off, or does it transfer to the mechanism? (not picking, serious Q)

I am surprised by 3 in 1 as it is quite a heavy oil compared to say sewing machine oil or even WD40.
 
With the 3in1 it depends on the type of lock. Oil should never be used on Pin Tumblers but will be fine on a Disc Tumbler Lock.

To the untrained eye they look similar.

Martin
 
Definitely graphite powder. It comes in a small bottle with a very thi nozzle & can actally squirt powder directly into the lock barrel. I use it on all my locks, house, car & boat. The boat one is a comination lock & has not given any bother for the 4+ years it has been exposed to the elements for the entire time. You can get it from locksmiths/security shops. Do NOT squirt it over or near anything light coloured like carpet or clothes , it DOES NOT come out without a lot of pain!
 
Looks like a consensus to me. I will scrape a pencil down and dip the key in the dust.

Thank you all.

That was easy!

Now my next question; How do I accelerate a particle of hydrogen to .......
 
I've always used WD40 to clean locks and padlocks, then 3-in1 to lubricate. WD40 is a very light oil and I use it liberally, with the intention of flushing out gunge then follow up with a more viscous oil such as 3-in-1 for protection. In my experience, silicone oil leaves a much less volatile residue than WD, and remaining sticky for longer can protect surfaces (but attract dirt) even better. I don't find it good as a lubricant, long term though. ptfe spray is a very good lubricant, but won't shift any gunge already there.
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Sorry, slow typing.
 
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I've always used WD40 to clean locks and padlocks, then 3-in1 to lubricate. WD40 is a very light oil and I use it liberally
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The WD in WD40 stands for "water dispersant". It does this well but is really a poor lubricant. Other pressure pack lubricants are better but the correct answer here is graphite powder.
 
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